On Wednesday, Taiwan braced for Typhoon Gaemi, which has rapidly intensified into one of the strongest storms to strike the island in eight years. The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Taiwan’s northeast coast later in the evening, with wind speeds reaching up to 227 kph (141 mph) near its center. Following its impact on Taiwan, Gaemi is forecasted to cross the Taiwan Strait and hit Fujian province in southeastern China by late Thursday afternoon.

The storm has already caused significant disruptions. Financial markets in Taiwan have been closed, flights have been canceled, and one person in Kaohsiung died after being struck by a falling tree. The fire department reported another 58 individuals were injured. Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai warned that the next 24 hours will be extremely challenging, and has urged residents to prepare for severe conditions.

In Yilan county, where the typhoon is expected to first make landfall, conditions are worsening with strong winds and heavy rain. Many businesses have closed, and roads are largely empty. Fishing boats in Suao harbor have sought refuge from the approaching storm.

Across Taiwan, work and school have been suspended, and streets in the capital city, Taipei, are nearly deserted. Over 4,000 people have been evacuated from high-risk mountainous areas prone to landslides due to the intense rainfall. Domestic flights have been largely canceled, with 227 international flights also affected. Rail services have been halted, except for a limited schedule of high-speed trains between the north and south of Taiwan.

Despite the widespread disruptions, TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier to Apple, has reported that its operations are continuing as usual due to their routine storm preparations.

In Japan's Okinawa prefecture, all flights to and from Miyako and Ishigaki have been canceled due to the storm’s path.

Taiwan’s defense ministry has placed 29,000 soldiers on standby to assist with disaster relief efforts. Although the typhoon has impacted the annual Han Kuang military exercises, they have not been canceled, with live fire drills continuing on the Penghu islands.

The typhoon is expected to bring up to 1,800 mm (70 inches) of rain to some mountainous regions in central and southern Taiwan. Additionally, Gaemi, along with a southwest monsoon, has also caused heavy rainfall in the Philippines, leading to school and work closures and a suspension of stock and foreign exchange trading. The storm has resulted in 12 fatalities in the Philippines.

While typhoons are often destructive, Taiwan relies on them to replenish reservoirs after drier winter months, particularly in the southern regions of the island.